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Thread: Northern California's Stones Gambling Hall scam long before Michael Postle.

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    Flashlight Master desertrunner's Avatar
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    Cool Northern California's Stones Gambling Hall scam long before Michael Postle.

    True story- About over 2 years ago, I was talking with a random stranger who turned out to work security at Stones. He told me (then) one of the biggest security issues at Stones was money laundering. I was like- WTH, but also found it interesting, he was casual about it like "no big deal". The scam is rather easy- bring in dirty money like 10k, buy chips, go play a table game for a short session of two hands and then cash out about most of the 10k in new clean cash from the cage.

    To me, I question if this is really illegal or how can you press this as a crime? I can understand if its a pattern over time and you catch the same person or people doing it, but it seems like a really quick and easy way to launder money?

    Any insight or opinion on this?

    Quick Google yields-

    Hawaiian Gardens, California: The Money Laundering Capital of the World

    Northern California Casino Penalized by FinCEN for Ignoring Anti-Money Laundering Laws

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    Quote Originally Posted by desertrunner View Post
    True story- About over 2 years ago, I was talking with a random stranger who turned out to work security at Stones. He told me (then) one of the biggest security issues at Stones was money laundering. I was like- WTH, but also found it interesting, he was casual about it like "no big deal". The scam is rather easy- bring in dirty money like 10k, buy chips, go play a table game for a short session of two hands and then cash out about most of the 10k in new clean cash from the cage.

    To me, I question if this is really illegal or how can you press this as a crime? I can understand if its a pattern over time and you catch the same person or people doing it, but it seems like a really quick and easy way to launder money?

    Any insight or opinion on this?

    Quick Google yields-

    Hawaiian Gardens, California: The Money Laundering Capital of the World

    Northern California Casino Penalized by FinCEN for Ignoring Anti-Money Laundering Laws
    I reported on a Northern California card club getting busted by the Feds in 2011. It was Artichoke Joe's in San Bruno.


     
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    Flashlight Master desertrunner's Avatar
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    Druff- Your take?

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    Owner Dan Druff's Avatar
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    Money laundering is super common at poker rooms because of how easy it is to do, especially if floormen can be tipped to look the other way.

    Eventually the government figures this out and clamps down, hence the various busts that have occurred over time. It seems like this is especially prevalent in California, for some reason.

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    Gold Cerveza Fria's Avatar
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    In Florida, it's a lot more simpler to do. All one needs to do feed $$$ into a slot machine. Cash out the printed ticket. Take it to a kiosk that pays out cash. They are all over the casino. No ID needed. No human interaction. If you take it to the cashier window they will ask for ID for cash outs over a certain amount.

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    Flashlight Master desertrunner's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post
    In Florida, it's a lot more simpler to do. All one needs to do feed $$$ into a slot machine. Cash out the printed ticket. Take it to a kiosk that pays out cash. They are all over the casino. No ID needed. No human interaction. If you take it to the cashier window they will ask for ID for cash outs over a certain amount.
    Damn. Pretty common, like weekly basis I assume?

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    Quote Originally Posted by desertrunner View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post
    In Florida, it's a lot more simpler to do. All one needs to do feed $$$ into a slot machine. Cash out the printed ticket. Take it to a kiosk that pays out cash. They are all over the casino. No ID needed. No human interaction. If you take it to the cashier window they will ask for ID for cash outs over a certain amount.
    Damn. Pretty common, like weekly basis I assume?
    If they do it weekly, nobody will think anything. They will just think they are a regular.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post
    In Florida, it's a lot more simpler to do. All one needs to do feed $$$ into a slot machine. Cash out the printed ticket. Take it to a kiosk that pays out cash. They are all over the casino. No ID needed. No human interaction. If you take it to the cashier window they will ask for ID for cash outs over a certain amount.
    You lack an understanding of Title 31 and the US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network: violations of Bank Secrecy Act and failures to file SARs and CTRs, etc. The US Treasury do not play games and casinos are being audited.

    https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/...21-210/summary

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    Quote Originally Posted by 130IQ Hustler View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post
    In Florida, it's a lot more simpler to do. All one needs to do feed $$$ into a slot machine. Cash out the printed ticket. Take it to a kiosk that pays out cash. They are all over the casino. No ID needed. No human interaction. If you take it to the cashier window they will ask for ID for cash outs over a certain amount.
    You lack an understanding of Title 31 and the US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network: violations of Bank Secrecy Act and failures to file SARs and CTRs, etc. The US Treasury do not play games and casinos are being audited.

    https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/...21-210/summary
    Actually, I have a pretty good understanding of the laws and rules with regard to Money Laundering. Every year, I must take Anti-Money Laundering CE as part of my various professional license requirements. I know what Banks, Financial Institutions and Casinos have to do for compliance. There are many ways to do so, without raising suspicion. All I did was point out a gap in the system, one that still exists today. The gap could be closed simply by not allowing the Kiosks to pay out more than a certain $$$ amount. Yet it never has been done. You might say there are cameras in or around these Kiosks, but masks shades and hats and hoodies take care of that.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post
    Actually, I have a pretty good understanding of the laws and rules with regard to Money Laundering. Every year, I must take Anti-Money Laundering CE as part of my various professional license requirements. I know what Banks, Financial Institutions and Casinos have to do for compliance. There are many ways to do so, without raising suspicion. All I did was point out a gap in the system, one that still exists today. The gap could be closed simply by not allowing the Kiosks to pay out more than a certain $$$ amount. Yet it never has been done. You might say there are cameras in or around these Kiosks, but masks shades and hats and hoodies take care of that.
    Your response continues to show a lack of understanding in how casinos monitor for money laundering activities in practice. One casino I know about has been documented to detect money laundering in an amount under $10K; this information is in the public domain.

    The lawyers at Ballard Spahr did a study and pointed out FinCEN made 3 civil penalties against casinos from 2003 to 2014 for under $2 million and penalties increased to over $100 million in 2015 and 2016.

    Again, I am questioning if what you stated earlier can be accomplished for a “large sum” of money. I am questioning the practicality or feasible of your assertion.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 130IQ Hustler View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post
    Actually, I have a pretty good understanding of the laws and rules with regard to Money Laundering. Every year, I must take Anti-Money Laundering CE as part of my various professional license requirements. I know what Banks, Financial Institutions and Casinos have to do for compliance. There are many ways to do so, without raising suspicion. All I did was point out a gap in the system, one that still exists today. The gap could be closed simply by not allowing the Kiosks to pay out more than a certain $$$ amount. Yet it never has been done. You might say there are cameras in or around these Kiosks, but masks shades and hats and hoodies take care of that.
    Your response continues to show a lack of understanding in how casinos monitor for money laundering activities in practice. One casino I know about has been documented to detect money laundering in an amount under $10K; this information is in the public domain.

    The lawyers at Ballard Spahr did a study and pointed out FinCEN made 3 civil penalties against casinos from 2003 to 2014 for under $2 million and penalties increased to over $100 million in 2015 and 2016.

    Again, I am questioning if what you stated earlier can be accomplished for a “large sum” of money. I am questioning the practicality or feasible of your assertion.
    It depends what you mean by “large sum”. And it also shows your lack of understanding of how certain casinos can and do operate. And it shows a lack of understanding of human nature on your part. I know what I have seen people do, just by observing others in various casinos over the years. Also, certain casinos have no interest in going out of their way to stop it, even if they have the ability. There’s a huge difference in what a statute says and how it is enforced and complied with.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post
    It depends what you mean by “large sum”. And it also shows your lack of understanding of how certain casinos can and do operate. And it shows a lack of understanding of human nature on your part. I know what I have seen people do, just by observing others in various casinos over the years. Also, certain casinos have no interest in going out of their way to stop it, even if they have the ability. There’s a huge difference in what a statute says and how it is enforced and complied with.
    You stated: “All one needs to do feed $$$ into a slot machine.” Your “$$$” usage is both vague and abstract; the “$$$” is what gave rise to my usage of “large sum” of money.

    You also used vague, subjective arguments while I stated concrete facts like 3 civil penalties under $2 million over a 10+ year period to a 50X plus increase in penalties over a two-year period, respectively.

    We can debate factual and objective metrics such as, but not limited to, biometrics, the recordation of the color and make of the vehicle(s) and associated license plate(s), background checks, other markers (related to human nature), etc. But I won’t since you know everything.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 130IQ Hustler View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post
    It depends what you mean by “large sum”. And it also shows your lack of understanding of how certain casinos can and do operate. And it shows a lack of understanding of human nature on your part. I know what I have seen people do, just by observing others in various casinos over the years. Also, certain casinos have no interest in going out of their way to stop it, even if they have the ability. There’s a huge difference in what a statute says and how it is enforced and complied with.
    You stated: “All one needs to do feed $$$ into a slot machine.” Your “$$$” usage is both vague and abstract; the “$$$” is what gave rise to my usage of “large sum” of money.

    You also used vague, subjective arguments while I stated concrete facts like 3 civil penalties under $2 million over a 10+ year period to a 50X plus increase in penalties over a two-year period, respectively.

    We can debate factual and objective metrics such as, but not limited to, biometrics, the recordation of the color and make of the vehicle(s) and associated license plate(s), background checks, other markers (related to human nature), etc. But I won’t since you know everything.
    So, you’re either a Dupe account trolling or something worse. I really don’t care. Your “concrete facts” don’t cite any actual cases. I’m not saying that some casinos won’t do the bare minimum to make it look like they’re in compliance. But, If you don’t think money laundering is still going on in casinos today, then I have a bridge to sell you. And the casinos continue to look the other way.

    But, alas, you know better. You think that because a Statute or Ordinance or Rule is written in a book somewhere that everyone will comply. Or you’re just a dupe or a troll. Go rub one out while reading AML statutes. And remember to flush the tissue.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post

    So, you’re either a Dupe account trolling or something worse. I really don’t care. Your “concrete facts” don’t cite any actual cases. I’m not saying that some casinos won’t do the bare minimum to make it look like they’re in compliance. But, If you don’t think money laundering is still going on in casinos today, then I have a bridge to sell you. And the casinos continue to look the other way.

    But, alas, you know better. You think that because a Statute or Ordinance or Rule is written in a book somewhere that everyone will comply. Or you’re just a dupe or a troll. Go rub one out while reading AML statutes. And remember to flush the tissue.
    Nice backpedaling.

    First you stated: “All one needs to do feed $$$ into a slot machine.“ Notice the “$$$” was never clarified.

    Now it’s: “And the casinos continue to look the other way.” Notice that this is an opinion; and if factual, no source was provided to allow others to double check the source. Opinions are not facts.

    I gave an example of a law firm that specializes in Title 31 and had produced an analysis. Anyone can contact https://www.ballardspahr.com/ and ask for their analysis.

    As for “actual cases”, someone was too lazy to search the internet:
    https://www.ballardspahr.com/-/media...3dd189bc6a53a2

    It’s always the guy who refuses to address facts that you have to be wary of.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 130IQ Hustler View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post

    So, you’re either a Dupe account trolling or something worse. I really don’t care. Your “concrete facts” don’t cite any actual cases. I’m not saying that some casinos won’t do the bare minimum to make it look like they’re in compliance. But, If you don’t think money laundering is still going on in casinos today, then I have a bridge to sell you. And the casinos continue to look the other way.

    But, alas, you know better. You think that because a Statute or Ordinance or Rule is written in a book somewhere that everyone will comply. Or you’re just a dupe or a troll. Go rub one out while reading AML statutes. And remember to flush the tissue.
    Nice backpedaling.

    First you stated: “All one needs to do feed $$$ into a slot machine.“ Notice the “$$$” was never clarified.

    Now it’s: “And the casinos continue to look the other way.” Notice that this is an opinion; and if factual, no source was provided to allow others to double check the source. Opinions are not facts.

    I gave an example of a law firm that specializes in Title 31 and had produced an analysis. Anyone can contact https://www.ballardspahr.com/ and ask for their analysis.

    As for “actual cases”, someone was too lazy to search the internet:
    https://www.ballardspahr.com/-/media...3dd189bc6a53a2

    It’s always the guy who refuses to address facts that you have to be wary of.
    Not taking the bait. If you want detailed instructions on Casino Money Laundering, look elsewhere. I can’t believe this Dupe actually thought I would fall for it. What a Cunt!
    Last edited by Cerveza Fria; 03-27-2021 at 07:06 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post

    Not taking the bait. If you want detailed instructions on Casino Money Laundering, look elsewhere. I can’t believe this Dupe actually thought I would fall for it. What a Cunt!
    There’s no bait; only to expose how Cerveza Fria likes to post fairy tales rather discussing a detailed 200+ Page document by a law firm with expertise on Title 31.

    You asked for cases and I supplied them and now you chicken out.

    Bro, the name calling is a nice touch.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 130IQ Hustler View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post

    Not taking the bait. If you want detailed instructions on Casino Money Laundering, look elsewhere. I can’t believe this Dupe actually thought I would fall for it. What a Cunt!
    There’s no bait; only to expose how Cerveza Fria likes to post fairy tales rather discussing a detailed 200+ Page document by a law firm with expertise on Title 31.

    You asked for cases and I supplied them and now you chicken out.

    Bro, the name calling is a nice touch.
    So, a Dupe account that was formed a few days ago comes on here. He twists a statement to show what a know-it-all he thinks he is about Money Laundering and then starts demanding detailed information on how to launder money through casinos. He posts links to statutes and other sites he claims are example cases and then complains when people don’t care to actually click on the links to read whatever the link takes you too. He expects you to read a 200+ page document (according to him) and then have a detailed discussion about it.

    First of all my original comment on this thread was not to you. All I said was you put $$$ in a machine and cash out the ticket later. You seem fixated on “$$$”. Too fucking bad. I don’t really don’t care. You are the text book definition of the term “cunt”. So fuck off and go back to posting under your other account.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post
    So, a Dupe account that was formed a few days ago comes on here. He twists a statement to show what a know-it-all he thinks he is about Money Laundering and then starts demanding detailed information on how to launder money through casinos. He posts links to statutes and other sites he claims are example cases and then complains when people don’t care to actually click on the links to read whatever the link takes you too. He expects you to read a 200+ page document (according to him) and then have a detailed discussion about it.

    First of all my original comment on this thread was not to you. All I said was you put $$$ in a machine and cash out the ticket later. You seem fixated on “$$$”. Too fucking bad. I don’t really don’t care. You are the text book definition of the term “cunt”. So fuck off and go back to posting under your other account.
    You act like you know everything.

    Bro, I’m not a sock puppet or “Dupe”.

    You won’t read the 200+ document because you know everything; the rest of read the document because it has good intel.

    Me thinks cerveza fria doth protest too much.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 130IQ Hustler View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post
    So, a Dupe account that was formed a few days ago comes on here. He twists a statement to show what a know-it-all he thinks he is about Money Laundering and then starts demanding detailed information on how to launder money through casinos. He posts links to statutes and other sites he claims are example cases and then complains when people don’t care to actually click on the links to read whatever the link takes you too. He expects you to read a 200+ page document (according to him) and then have a detailed discussion about it.

    First of all my original comment on this thread was not to you. All I said was you put $$$ in a machine and cash out the ticket later. You seem fixated on “$$$”. Too fucking bad. I don’t really don’t care. You are the text book definition of the term “cunt”. So fuck off and go back to posting under your other account.
    You act like you know everything.

    Bro, I’m not a sock puppet or “Dupe”.

    You won’t read the 200+ document because you know everything; the rest of read the document because it has good intel.

    Me thinks cerveza fria doth protest too much.
    Hey Gringo, the only one who is acting like a “know-it-all” is you. What a Cunt. And you’re a racist, too! Lol.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cerveza Fria View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by 130IQ Hustler View Post

    There’s no bait; only to expose how Cerveza Fria likes to post fairy tales rather discussing a detailed 200+ Page document by a law firm with expertise on Title 31.

    You asked for cases and I supplied them and now you chicken out.

    Bro, the name calling is a nice touch.
    So, a Dupe account that was formed a few days ago comes on here. He twists a statement to show what a know-it-all he thinks he is about Money Laundering and then starts demanding detailed information on how to launder money through casinos. He posts links to statutes and other sites he claims are example cases and then complains when people don’t care to actually click on the links to read whatever the link takes you too. He expects you to read a 200+ page document (according to him) and then have a detailed discussion about it.

    First of all my original comment on this thread was not to you. All I said was you put $$$ in a machine and cash out the ticket later. You seem fixated on “$$$”. Too fucking bad. I don’t really don’t care. You are the text book definition of the term “cunt”. So fuck off and go back to posting under your other account.
    130IQ Hustler is very likely a dupe of 2 accounts on Druff's other site vegascasinotalk.com

    "Ex-AP" and "15bucksanhourAP"

    Checks all the boxes and a very similar M.O.

    Cerveza, go to Druff's other site and look up this clown's posts in the "Whatever's On Your Mind" sub-forum. You'll see what I mean.

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